Sarsia tubulosa

Penny Martin hundreds of 'sarsia tubulosa' by 1st Barrier, Orkney .... it was like hydromedusa soup

Sue Daly Is anyone else seeing these little critters, White Cross Hydromedusa, Staurophora mertensi? We have quite a few down here in Sark. I can't find out much about them but it seems they are more of an arctic species. I know the sea's a bit cold this year but…..!

Marco Faasse How large are they? If not larger than about 2 cm they could be Eucheilota maculata. Medusae of this species have a dark spot (maculata) on each of the 4 sides between the gonads. Are these visible on one of your photos? In fact there are several similar species, but the spots are diagnostic for E. maculata.

Fiona Crouch Yep saw loads yesterday around Plymouth. Keith Hiscock and I were just talking about them today but he couldn't remember the name. Well think it was these.

Sue Daly They were about 4cm across

Marco Faasse Most hydromedusae don't grow that large. Clytia islandica is a possibility; all characters seem to be OK. Are the lips of the stomach crenulate? Clytia hemisphaerica, C. gracilis and Lovenella clausa stay significantly smaller and should have less tentacles.

Keith Hiscock I will print-out your pic. Sue and show it to our planktonologists. Yesterday, they identified a very poor pic that I took of the little 2-3cm across medusae that we are getting loads of here as Cosmetina pilosella.

Erling Svensen Could it be Staurophora mertensi? http://www.oceaneyephoto.com/photo_5352512.html

Penny Martin We have been seeing thousands around in Orkney for about 6 weeks in lots of different places round the islands ...... all sizes from about 10 mm upwards ... I have lots of photos ( see Snorkel Orkney) usually with Sarsia tubulosa and pleurobrachia pileus

Penny Martin Can anybody help with ID please? many seen in Deer Sound, Orkney today ......

Richard Lord That is fabulous.

Penny Martin But do youknow what it is ?? I assume hydromedusa or comb jelly ??

Richard Lord No, I don't. I would need to consult some books. If there is no success here try the cnidaria email list - many hundreds of experts on this list that could help with ID http://maillists.uci.edu/mailman/listinfo/cnidaria I would also suggest contacting Peter who owns the following website - http://www.ville-ge.ch/mhng/hydrozoa/hydrozoa-directory.htm

Andy Horton Could it be Sarsia tubulosa ? (no direct experience of this hydrozoan)

Andy Horton http://www.seawater.no/fauna/cnidaria/tubulosa.html

Marco Faasse Andy is correct. It's certainly Sarsia tubulosa. Medusae are released in early spring.

Penny Martin Thank you very much . :-)

Andy Horton In Sussex until June there is hardly anything to sea in the sea.

Penny Martin Here, in the water, it is differernt from the summer , few fishes in the shallows or shore and harbour crabs, but lots of sea hares, other sea slugs, lots of eggs and egg cases, different worms both polychaete and tube, spider crabs, hundreds of moon jellies and other hydomedusa and beautiful light and water clarity.

Marco Faasse It differs from Leuckartiara octona in having 4 tentacle bulbs with 1 tentacle each, and in other characters.

Darryl Mayer Cheers Marco, it's indeed a shame that this beasty is mis-ID'd (ie, the wrong photo) in the Photographic Guide to the Sea and Shore Life of Britain and NW Europe, as a Sea Gooseberry, Pleurobrachia pileus.

Liz Morris Lovely picture Penny. Darryl, unfortunately that book is riddled with misIDs,so be cautious with it!